Scotland centre is in desperate need of game time after injury-ravaged couple of seasons

SCOTLAND and Glasgow Warriors centre Alex Dunbar is set to join Newcastle Falcons on loan as soon as the details of the deal have been agreed.

The 28-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has had a tough couple of years with injury and is in desperate need of some game time. However, Warriors are fairly well stocked at centre with Scotland Six Nations training squad members Pete Horne, Huw Jones, Nick Grigg, Sam Johnson and Stafford McDowall all vying for game time, so a switch to the English Premiership club could be a perfect way for Dunbar to reinvigorate his rugby fortunes.

Meanwhile, Andrew Davidson is moving in the other direction, having agreed a two-year deal which will see him return to Glasgow from Newcastle in the summer. The 22-year-old second row spent a month on loan with the Warriors earlier this season and impressed the coaching staff with his performances in the team’s victories over Dragons and Zebre.

The former Kelvinside Academy pupil and Scotland age-grade cap at Under-18, Under-19 and Under-20 level signed for Falcons in 2016 and has made 14 appearances during his time in the north of England. He previously played for Glasgow Hawks in the Premiership.

“I’m delighted to be returning to Scotland and to Glasgow Warriors,” he said. “I thoroughly enjoyed my month up there earlier this season, so when I knew they were interested in signing me permanently it was an easy decision to make. “Glasgow have shown this season that they’re one of the top sides in Europe and I’m excited to challenge myself at the highest level. As a Glasgow boy it feels like I’m coming home and I can’t wait to represent my city again playing for the Warriors.”

Glasgow assistant coach Jonathan Humphreys will have moved on by the time Davidson returns north, but said: “We were really impressed with Andrew during the month he spent here. He’s physical in both attack and defence and has a strong set-piece game too. Having lost Greg Peterson to Bordeaux earlier this season, he’ll add to our strength in depth at lock and he’ll learn a lot competing alongside the likes of Scott Cummings, Jonny Gray, Rob Harley and Tim Swinson.”

Kiran McDonald is another second-row option currently on the books at the club, while Brian Alainu’uese moved to Toulon in October.

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David has worked as a freelance rugby journalist since 2004 covering every level of the game in Scotland for publications including The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, The Scotsman/Scotland on Sunday/Evening News, The Herald/Sunday Herald, The Daily Mail/Mail on Sunday and The Sun.

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